Throughout the entire 2017-18 season, BSN Denver will be giving you game grades from every Denver Broncos contest. In the preseason, with so many different players on the field, we’re focused on the starters but also gave out grades to every unit’s backup group, allowing us to highlight some of the more notable performances of the night.

With little preparation and only fringe roster players seeing action in this one, the Broncos laid the smack-down on the Arizona Cardinals in a 30-2 win. Grade wise, it was the best performance of the preseason with several notable showings and a quarterback that entertained.

Defense

Tyrique Jarrett: B

Jarrett played a lot early on and didn’t appear to as much in the second half—that could be a good sign for him. The big nose guard had a nice play at the end of the first quarter, penetrating the line and creating a stop at the line of scrimmage. He created great push against the run, completely blowing up the center and closing down on a stretch run in another instance. His mobility for his size and get off is impressive.

He hasn’t been talked about as much as others but Jarrett’s looked good when he’s played and is a ready-made nose tackle.

Shelby Harris: C

Harris had a bit of a letdown game after dominating the Green Bay Packers less than a week ago. He generally did his job against the run but was ineffective creating pressure. Not a bad game, but a below standard outing and a quiet one at that.

Adam Gotsis: B-

Gotsis was stout against the run, taking on double teams and creating some penetration.

As the highest drafted non-rookie starter on the defense, Gotsis should have been more dominant as he created very little pressure against the pass.

By the second quarter, he got going and disrupted a run on 3rd-and-4, forcing it outside for a loss of yardage. Soon afterward he showed good pursuit running down Arizona QB, Trevor Knight, on a scramble. The tools are obviously there, but in a game in which he played a lot, it felt like he could have done more.

Back up defensive line: A

Shakir Soto was the standout on the line this evening, starting off by penetrating against the run getting a tackle for a loss on second down to force third and long. Soto was a factor against the run, got consistent penetration and showed good lateral mobility defending the edge as well.

DeMarcus Walker: B+

Walker didn’t do much in creating pressure, but he showed great hustle tracking down a run on the backside and generally playing well against the rush. He set a strong edge, reacted quickly and closed on a lot of plays, limiting them for minimal gains. His game wasn’t perfect, as he was beaten to the edge for one of the Cardinals biggest runs of the evening, but ultimately he had his best game and looked more confident at outside linebacker.

Zaire Anderson: B

Didn’t play all that much but he was on the field early on and was around the ball against the run plugging lanes. He helped close on a tackle for loss on second down early on. He was solid, nothing more.

Quentin Gause: C

Gause did a good job filling in running lanes from his outside linebacker position and made a few tackles, nothing that would justify a surprise spot on the 53 man roster.

Kasim Edebali: C+

Edebali’s game was fairly disappointing, all things considered. He really didn’t make many plays at all.  He didn’t get burned or have any big plays develop as a result of any mistake he made, but he had a really quiet game and has now slowed down a bit after a nice start to his preseason. His ability to create pressure has been underwhelming, though he did have a QB hit.

Back up linebackers: B

Vontarrius Dora made a few tackles against the run but didn’t create much pressure as an outside backer.

Danny Mason and Ken Ekanem both won off the edge and met at the quarterback for a nice combined sack, a welcome sight considering the pressure was largely missing in this game. Ekanem had a nice game once he was put in well into the second half. He’s got intriguing speed as an outside pass rusher.

Kevin Snyder had a nice tackle in space out in the flats closing down easily on a Cards back. He played a decent amount and was probably the most impressive of the interior backers in this game. He played fast and showed good instincts as he was around the ball and plugged lanes.

Chris Lewis-Harris: B

CLH notched a crucial tipped pass playing sticky coverage on a shallow crossing route to force the first punt of the game, and a Broncos stop. He made several other plays and looked pretty good in coverage considering the lack of a real game plan in this game. He wasn’t perfect but played well.

Jamal Carter: A-

Carter was a stand out in this game, particularly coming downhill against the run where he was part of two different tackles for a loss. He fills in the right lanes, takes on blockers and will make his presence felt. Re-watching the game, his performance truly stood out, he was around the ball constantly is and a real menace when playing up close to the line.

One negative note, he did get beat deep with Doss by Chris Hubert on a pass that luckily was overthrown, or it could have been a deep touchdown. That’s the one big concern with Carter, his ability to turn and run with receivers and be a reliable last line of defense.

Orion Stewart: B

No. 36 did his best imitation of No. 26 with the same last name and looked serviceable. He wasn’t tested as a deep safety much but did his job when asked to come downhill in coverage and had few hiccups.

Branden Langley: A-

The third-round rookie did a great job tackling. He reacted quickly and closed on plays with a hurry while also looking physical in coverage even laying the wood on a receiver in the second quarter. He had a big tackle for a loss on a run that was forced to the outside and then playing zone coverage got his hands on a pass and almost had a big turnover. Langley’s played well in the last two games, showing some nice progress considering he’s still a raw corner. His ability as a tackler is particularly intriguing as a special teams gunner.

Back up defensive backs: A

This group is deep and has regularly had high grades as they’re probably the biggest reason for the Broncos undefeated record in the preseason.

Dymonte Thomas had one of the better games, starting with his big pick-six in which he had an amazing return run. He also flashed in coverage and showed nice instincts.

Lorenzo Doss played perfected coverage down the sideline getting his hands on one ball, but was unable to haul in the would be interception. He later jumped a route and had another should-have-been pick that he dropped. He did allow one or two passes but mostly made plays and could have made more.

Offense

Ty Sambrailo: B-

Sambrailo was beaten to his inside shoulder on third down on the second drive and looked like he might have been lucky not to get called for a holding penalty on that play. He played some center in the second quarter and did a nice job especially on Steven Ridley’s 3rd-and-6 run to the Cards two-yard line.

Aside from his one hiccup, the new Atlanta Falcom was smooth in pass protection and may have helped the Broncos get some added value in the trade.

Billy Turner: B

Turner had his worst play on the very first snap, giving up quick pressure on the game’s opening first down and allowing a tipped pass. As the entire offense got clicking from the first quarter on, Turner began to bully people in the run game. He had a nasty pancake on Steven Ridley’s biggest run and was physical when on the field.

Dillon Day: B

Given the start at center with McGovern playing at guard and a pretty constant shuffling of positions, Day did a nice job. He’s received negative reviews in other games this preseason but did his job cleanly in this one.

Connor McGovern: B

Playing right guard in this game, he struggled to create push on the Broncos failed third-and-short conversion on the second drive of the game. Like the rest of the offense, he got going as the game progressed and had a great block opening up a big hole for Ridley on the opening touchdown run.

Donald Stephenson: D+

Stephenson wasn’t clean. He allowed a sack on third-down, getting beat off the snap and letting the defender slip under his pads leading to the safety to open the game. DeAngelo Henderson tried to run behind him on third and short on the second drive but No. 71 was unable to create push, leading to a Denver punt. He also allowed another sack while playing left tackle.

Those were major clearing issues, but Stephenson also had some good spurts and was part of the offense getting going. The inconsistencies are just too much.

Back up offensive line: B-

Michael Schofield opened up a big hole for Juwan Thompson to get inside the Arizona five. He was called for a false start but immediately made up for it by opening up a big hole for Thompson again. His showing as a run blocker was impressive.

Elijah Wilkinson looked intriguing playing right guard in the second half. He got out on the move and opened up a huge hole for Steven Ridley. He also showed some deficiencies missing a block at the second level. A raw talent with nice size and movement skills who flashed as a run blocker.

DeAngelo Henderson: C-

Henderson, as always, looked shifty and quick but this wasn’t his best game. In limited touches, he missed some holes and tried to force runs to the outside. He had some rookie growing pains but has shown enough to deserve a roster spot.

Back up running backs: B+

Juwan Thompson had his best game of the 2017 preseason. He got out in space and did his best bulling over defenders. Thompson ran with power and speed, looking decisive in his running. He probably was the best looking back of the night.

Steven Ridley likely had his best game of the preseason as well. Still not consistent, but he got some big runs in, showing his ability as a downhill north-and-south runner and a bit more vision and patience. On the night, he looked better than Henderson, but it’s likely not enough to steal his roster spot.

Stanley Williams coughed it up and lost the ball on his very first carry of the game; he continued to be loose with his ball handling after that.

Jordan Taylor: C

Taylor had two key drops; one a back-shoulder throw that could have been a big gainer on third down leading to the Broncos having to settle for the first field goal of the game, then another time on a slightly over thrown pass. But he did get the Broncos going in the one big drive that set everything off, making a nice move to the inside and then running for 32 yards. The offense never looked back from there.

Anthony Nash: B

Nash made sideline grab, having to turn around and hauling it the catch before going out of bounds. He did a great job on an inside post getting open and putting Denver in field goal position at the end of the half. A nice if unspectacular showing.

Isaiah McKenzie: N/A

McKenzie had two fair catches, and that was the extent of his game. Despite being the starting slot receiver, he basically was absent. A disappointment, as it would have been fun to see him get some touches.

Back up wide receiver: C-

Kalif Reymond was the go-to return man on punts in this game and statically did quite poorly as he tried to invent crazy returns from bad field position. Raymond did add a couple of grabs, but his special teams performance was worrisome and may effect his roster standing the most.

Jeff Heuerman: C-

Heuerman, like many of the tight ends, wasn’t featured much in this game. He did have a 17-yard grab and was so-so as a blocker, the progression through this offseason hasn’t been there, though.

Back up tight ends: B

In the second half, we saw two tight ends make nice grabs as Austin Traylor caught a tough contested catch up the seam. While  Steven Scheu split the coverage making a nice touchdown haul.

Kyle Sloter: A-

After having shown some nice poise and playmaking skills in the early games of the preseason, Sloter started off very slowly and just looked out of his element. He allowed a safety by holding onto the ball too long and almost allowed another safety for the same reason later

That was the first quarter, though, after that, and particularly once the Broncos ran up tempo, he started to get going making a couple nice throws on the run and out of play action.

When he’s on, he’s a fun quarterback to watch. He still missed some throws here and there but made more good passes than bad ones. He shows easy arm strength and likes to make plays, wether it’s with tough passes on the run or making throws in tight windows.

All-in-all, this was Sloter’s most impressive outing. There are still lots of things to clean up; some points were left on the board, and the offense only converted 3-of-11 third downs, but he made a good case for himself on the night, especially making plays out of play action and from under center.